I Am Willing

I Am Willing

Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”⁴¹ Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”  Mark 1:40-41

I am willing! What causes you to have an unsure view of my love and devotion to you?  I am always for you!  Because you love my Son, you are the apple of my eye.  I am on your side!

Once a leper came near my Son.  Not only was he unpleasant to look at, but his stench was overwhelming.  They call them the untouchables. But he approached my Son with persistence and humility asking if I would bring healing.  My heart for wholeness for my creation welled up inside my Son.  I released my healing power as my Son touched the man.  He became whole again.

I see your brokenness in life.  Your hidden sins are not hidden to me.  Others can see your imperfections of anger, pride, deceit and jealousy.  It keeps them from fully trusting you.  In many ways, your sin creates an aura of untouchableness.  But I am not afraid to touch your pain.  I am willing to make you clean.  I want to remove the hesitancy in your mind.

I see you flinch at the thought of coming close to me.  You father hit you physically and with words that made you unsure of what true love looks like.  Your father’s absence led you to believe that I may not be there at the most needful moment.  But I am here.  Ask and seek me and you will find me.  I am God, your Father.  I will always be, for I AM.

Whispers from your Father, God

Everybody is looking for Who?

Everybody is looking for Who?

³⁶ And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. ³⁷ When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” Mark 1:36-37

Jesus had healed many, cast out demons and preached with authority.  The next morning, He went to a secluded place to pray for perspective.  When the disciples found him, they exclaimed, “Everyone is looking for You.”  What a great indictment of his impact this early in his ministry.  Wouldn’t it be great if our congregation, community or city were looking for Jesus like this?

Give yourself a quick poll…scale of 1-10…how high is your passion to find and follow Jesus?  Does your answer line up with your actions?  The crowd was looking for Jesus because he had an answer for their pain.  That answer for the most part was instantaneous.  They were sick and then they were healed.  They were oppressed by an evil spirit and it left. Peter’s mother-in-law was sick with a fever, she was healed and started serving them.  It was natural for them to conclude that Jesus had power from God to bring change in their lives.  Where do people see a demonstration of the power of God in your life?  Where do you see God at work that has to be him and not your own gifts and abilities?

Jesus however knew the dangers of being pursued for his giftings.  At the height of being sought after, he left that town to go minister in other places.  Was there still need?  Yes and lots of it.  However, Jesus following the lead from the Holy Spirit was the better than pursuing need.  Being wanted can easily lead to pride. 

Are you convinced that you are ministering right where the Holy Spirit has guided you?  Don’t get trapped into thinking that you stay because they need you?  I am not talking about quitting because of strife, trouble or spiritual warfare.  We need the characteristic of endurance that comes only through difficult situations.  However, God sustains us with His presence and power when we are ministering where He has called us.  Be overjoyed with the inner witness from the Spirit that you are exactly where God has planted you for this season.  You can expect fruit that will remain.

If your primary role is an evangelist and you are pastoring a church, be aware of a desire to leave often.  It is in the spiritual DNA of evangelist to go to those who are lost.  That does not mean that you need to leave your church.  It does mean that you have a conversation with your church to allow you to regularly go to other places to share the gospel.  God supports you in the context of a local body.  I am not just talking about financial support.  We need feedback and social support that only comes from “body life”.  If you don’t have relationships in which you can be real with people, you are in need of “body life”.

Let us pray that people will begin to be “looking for Jesus”.  Paul said that he preached to the Corinthians not with persuasive speech, but with the power of God.  I pray that God’s power is evident in everything we do.  Preach with power, counsel with power, pray for healing with power, serve with power, sing with power, share the gospel with power, live holy with power, and lead with power, so that others connect all that you are doing to Jesus.  If we are not ministering with God’s power, then what is the source of life for our ministry?  The Word of God, yes.  Let the Spirit breathe over the Word to perform it.  In your weakness, He is made strong.

Father, we know there are so many lost who do not know you as their savior.  Help us to follow your lead to be as effective as you want us to be.  Nothing held back.  We are yours.  Use us as you see fit.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

Come, Follow ME, Jesus said…Are you doing it?

Come, Follow ME, Jesus said…Are you doing it?

¹⁶ As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ¹⁸ At once they left their nets and followed him.  Mark 1:15-16

Three simple commands capture the whole essence of Christianity.  “Come”, “follow”, and “send”.  Sometimes we can make it complicated, not intentionally of course.  Sometimes it can be confusing what our specific role may be.  But it is simple.

“Come”.  For all of us it starts with an invitation.  Jesus looks at the life we have been living and knows that it’s not working.  We were created for a relationship with God.  If that relationship is not right, we never end up with the true destiny for our lives.  Jesus invites us to “come”.  Immediately our natural reaction is to start giving all of the excuses why we are not able to accept that invitation.  We are too busy, too distracted, too broken, too sinful, too many obligations or too unwilling to let go of our old life.  You can’t stay where you are in your mess and at the same time say that you have “come” to the savior.

“Follow” is an ongoing present tense word, not a past action or event.  It is incomprehensible for Jesus to think that walking an isle as a child fulfills this command.  Yes, coming to an invitation to accept Jesus was following him at that moment.  But how are you following his lead right now for your life?  How does your business, family, friends, use of money, or free time reflect that Jesus is leading and you are following?  At once Peter left his vocation and followed Jesus.  He started walking with Him.  Living life with him.  Peter’s time became His timetable.  How would you describe to someone else what following Jesus looks like in your life?

“Send”.  Many have stopped following because they did not connect “following” with mission.  We are created for fruit.  We love to know that we are accomplishing something that is bigger than just us.  At some point in our following Jesus lets us become participants.  At one point in his ministry Jesus sent the disciples out by two’s ahead of him.  There were doing what they had seen Jesus do.  This “sending” is not necessarily to a specific location, but rather to specific people.  Jesus called this fishing for men.  There are those who are ready to come and follow Jesus.  Jesus invites us to participate by sharing and inviting others to come and follow.  If you feel like your Christian faith is flat, stale, or uneventful, the solution could be just this simple.  Begin inviting others to follow Christ.  When was the last time that you personally asked someone to “come and follow” Jesus for the salvation of their souls?  It’s part of the great adventure of following Jesus.  Do all three: Come, Follow, and Fish for People.

Father, thank you that to obey you is easy to understand.  May your Holy Spirit reveal to us where we get stuck on these commands.  Show us where we are unwilling to come to you or to follow you.  Teach us how to fish for people.  May we be very bold and tactful in our presenting the good news that Jesus offers for a new life.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

What time is it? Jesus knows!

What time is it?  Jesus knows!

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ¹⁵ “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1:14-15

Jesus was many things, but he was first known as a preacher.  One who proclaims, declares, and speaks forth with authority.  In Luke, Jesus quotes from a passage in Isaiah which ends with the anointed one “proclaiming the favorable year of the Lord”.  As the Word of God, Jesus spoke the message that God wanted all to hear.  The word became flesh and dwelt among us, says John.

I have taught that his first message was Repent and believe, but I stand corrected.  His first message was that the “time has come” or “the time is fulfilled” or “the time is at hand”.  Understanding the clue of “time” to this message unlocks why people were so willing to repent.

In the book of Daniel, he foretells about the messiah coming after 3 time periods.  The 4^th time period would reveal the Ancient of Days.  All the Jews knew that the Roman occupation was the 3^rd time period foretold by Daniel.  They were looking and listening for the inauguration of the 4^th period of time.  Jesus declares that NOW is the time that was foretold.  He is the person who announces and lives this 4^th kingdom.

That the 4^th Kingdom is at hand was good news.  You can hear the buzz around the villages that the messiah had come.  The Jews of course were thinking primarily of the physical reality of his kingdom.  They wanted him to overthrow the Romans, kick them off their land, and restore the kingdom of David in all of its glory.  Jesus ushered in the 4^th kingdom of a spiritual reality in the context of a physical reality.

Since the 4^th kingdom was at hand, it was important for its inhabitants to align their lives with the values of this kingdom.  Jesus said that they need to repent.  Change their way of thinking and behavior that was contrary to this new kingdom.  Repentance was validated in their belief of this new king and his kingdom.

When we share the good news of salvation, we are also declaring that the realm of this kingdom can be a true right now for the person who believes.  With the acceptance of this kingdom, one has access to all the treasures of this kingdom (peace, salvation, joy, grace, mercy, love, power for holy living, and more).

We are living in the time that was foretold of God’s favor.  This NOW time is available to anyone who believes.  As Paul says, “how will they believe unless someone tells them it is available?”  Today could be the NOW time for someone that you meet.  That is GOOD news.

Father, Thank you that Jesus preached with clarity and authority.  Give us the revelation necessary to walk in your kingdom realm.  Thank you that your message is good news, even if you have to point out the things in our lives that offend you.  Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever, Amen.

Have you been baptized?

Have you been baptized?

⁴ And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. Mark 1:4-5

Have you been baptized?  Baptism is a wonderful sacrament of the church.  It has also been a contention for division in which whole denominations have been started because of disagreement about mode or purpose.  There are 3 modes observed by churches.  Immersion is going under the water completely, symbolizing going into the grave and immersing in out of the water as in the resurrection. (Romans 6:3-5).  Affusion is a pouring of the water reflecting a pouring out of the Holy Spirit.  Aspersion is sprinkling of water with the symbolism of being sprinkled by the blood of Christ for purification.  Those holding to believer’s baptism (only baptized after committing one’s life to Christ) usually hold to immersion baptism.  Traditions of infant baptism would be aligned to pouring and sprinkling.  There are some good articles expressing the scriptures defending each of these modes for further reading.

For our text, what is important is the ACT of being baptized in connection with response to preaching or revelation of what God expects from us.  John’s preaching caused dividing line in their lives.  They were going to have to change and follow God’s ways.  Or reject John and what he was preaching and continue to live life on their own standards.  The anticipated response to following God’s ways was to be baptized.  It was an outward expression to all those watching what was occurring on the inside of their hearts.

The overwhelming characteristic of John’s baptizing was the confessing of sins.  Most sin brings shame.  Shame dictates silence through embarrassment.  “What would people think, if they knew “this” about me”?  So we keep silent.  But preaching the word of and from God shatters the wall of shame around our conscious.  In brokenness we are ready to share in agreement (confess) the most sinfully ugly actions and thoughts that we have participated in.  There is a washing and cleansing that occurs when we confess to God the error of our ways.  God responds to our brokenness and removes the bondage of sin from our lives.

It is one of the reasons that sharing of testimony at a baptism is so important.  It is powerful to witness the transforming work of Christ in person who is telling the story about themselves.  The strength to overcoming fear of others knowing our junk is found in the loving acceptance that we gain from our new found relationship with God.

Have you confessed your sins to another person? There is healing awaiting you.  I encourage you to be baptized.  It seals the door of doubt that is left open about your identity in Christ.  When we openly confess our relationship with God through the mode of Baptism, Jesus is confessing our relationship to Him before God.

Father, help us to listen to preaching and your word that it may penetrate into the hardness of our hearts.  Let it break up the fallow ground.  Help us to respond appropriately.  Let’s get baptized, if necessary.  Help us to pursue you in a broken and contrite heart. Help us to understand the strength of confessing as a path toward freedom.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

Only God is Wise

Only God is Wise

²⁷ to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.Romans 16:27

Are you comfortable with the exclusivity of Christianity?  Paul finishes his letter to the Romans with these words, “to the only wise God”.  For Paul there is no other way to the Father, except through Jesus Christ.  There is no other God that can be compared to the Heavenly Father.

Do you realize how much time we spend looking for another avenue to navigate life?  Do you understand that trust in God is not mere words?  Do you understand how easy it is for us to put other “gods” before God?  We think we have over come this type of false worship, because we don’t see little idols in our home.

God is the sustainer of our lives.  He is the hub in the middle of the wheel for all of our activities.   Anything else that we place in the middle of our lives in order to gain significance begins to replace God.  Money can’t buy you love or wholeness.  Sex is fleeting and leaves a hunger for more that can never be satisfied.  Power and position only last as long as people remember your name. Anything that is used to bring glory to ourselves will be empty and as the writer of Ecclesiastes says, “meaningless vanities”.

When you start on the right path, it is easier to end up at the right destination.  There is only one God.  He defines how He is to be approached, what is required for a good relationship with Him, and the standards for conducting life.  Acknowledging Him as first in your life, puts all the other “dramas” in the right order.  Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and ALL the other things shall be added to you.

Father, thank you for the word of God that points us always in the right direction.  Thank you that the Bible always points to you as the author and the finisher of our faith.  Help is to recognize every time we are looking to other things to meet a need in our lives that only you can fill.  We love you Lord.  In Jesus Name Amen.

Warning, Warning, You are about to be deceived!

Warning, Warning, You are about to be deceived!

I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. ¹⁸ For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Romans 16:17-18

Paul is speaking from personal experience in church planting.  He would preach the gospel message of grace and people would be truly converted.  Shortly others would follow Paul’s teaching by adding more rules to follow God.  They would say something like…” It is great that you have become a follower of Jesus.  To become a great follower you need to follow the Jewish laws and traditions, for Jesus was a Jew.  The closer you follow Jewish rules for eating, keeping holy days, looking and sounding more Jewish the better Christian you will be.”  With many other ideas these teachings would begin to put a yoke of “good” conduct that was unsustainable.  Paul experienced this type of teachings disastrous effects.

The Greek word for “urge” is from the same root word as advocate, paracleo.  The Holy Spirit is called a “legal advocate”.  He is to give us great advice that will keep us on the right track.  Paul is saying to them, “I am giving you the best legal counsel in how to conduct your affairs”. 

“Watch out”  means “to put on notice” or to “mark something as important to monitor”.  Be watchful for deceivers.  Some may ask how to tell if a person is sowing deception?  They are looking for a guide to determine if the teaching is truth or error.  So it is very important that you have spent time knowing why and what you believe regarding your Christian life.  BUT the test is very simple…is the teaching causing division and why is it causing division.  When someone is speaking ill about a person in authority, that is division.  When a person talks more about the character of another person and not doctrinal teaching, that is division.  When a person exalts their teaching as the “true secret” that God has given to just me, he is a deceiver.  When there is disagreement (it’s not wrong to disagree),  the main atmosphere that people you should feel is love and respect.  Anything else is moving toward division. 

Paul says that we should “keep away” from divisive people.  But it seems they work their way into Sunday School classes, small groups, and deacon boards.  They appear to be genuinely nice people.  Look to the fruit of division.  Their words are persuasive so don’t engage in trying to convince them through rhetoric.  Point to the areas of division and lack of respect for authority.

Is there way to protect yourself?  Walk in harmony with the Holy Spirit.  One of His main tasks in your life is to lead and guide you into all truth.  The truth will set you free.  Where there is liberty there is freedom.  Live in Freedom.

Father, you are good.  Thank you that you protect us from the devastating attacks of the enemy.  We can think clearly because we have the mind of Christ.  We will not fear about deceivers, because your light exposes the darkness.  So help us to be aware of errors in the biblical message.  Thank you that you are truth, life and the way. 

Abundant Greetings

Abundant Greetings

¹³ Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. Romans 16:13

In Romans 16, Paul sends greetings to many of his friends that are already in Rome.  He is finishing his letter that he hopes will be an encouragement to them.  We are so spoiled with our ability to talk instantly with people that we love and miss.  I talked with a friend in South Korea the other day on Facebook online chat.  There was absolutely no delay in our conversation.  It is amazing how blessed we are with our easy access technology today.  Where would we be if all electronic communication was gone?

Do you realize that a whole chapter made it into our Bible that is full of “greetings”.  The Bible is the inspired word of God, so is this chapter.  What do you think God wants us to observe and learn from this chapter?

First Paul’s greetings reflect the diversity of the body of Christ and their service unto the Lord.  Women are prominent in every place that Paul ministered as a missionary.  Some have been in prison and others have sacrificed to support Paul.  Paul talks about his Jewish friends and his gentile friends.  We should celebrate the diversity of the body of Christ.  It’s not all about us.

Second, we should know that our sacrifices do not go unnoticed.    Each of these people helped Paul fulfill God’s call on his life.  Some are not even mentioned by name, such as Rufus’ mother.  But their contribution is appreciated. Every place that we participate in the advancement of the kingdom is noted and will be celebrated when we get to Heaven.

Finally it is important that we share appreciation for one another.  All of us appreciate a sincere thank you.  The parchment that Paul wrote this letter was expensive.  Writing the letter was time consuming.  Can you see the value that Paul was placing on these individuals to include them in his closing greetings?  Remembering people that have had an influence on our spiritual journey is important.  Communicating that appreciation in writing is like refreshing rain on parched land.  You will never know how much those words could mean, this side of Heaven.  Pause now and ask God if there is someone that you have been thinking about writing, but haven’t taken the time to do it.  Make the list and set aside the time to finish that project.

Father, thank you for your written word.  Thank you for those who have walked together with us in our spiritual journey.  Bless those who minister unnoticed.  Help them not to become wear in well doing.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

In your ministry, what are you proud of?

In your ministry, what are you proud of?

¹⁷ In Christ Jesus, then, I have reason to be proud of my work for God. ¹⁸ For I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience—by word and deed, ¹⁹ by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God—so that from Jerusalem and all the way around to Illyricum I have fulfilled the ministry of the gospel of Christ; Romans 15:17

Paul said that he was proud of his work in the ministry.  But the key to his pride was found in this, all of the fruit in ministry came “in Christ”.  Was he being arrogant?  Is it okay to be proud of your work?  Some of you may be thinking that you have nothing to be proud of.  None of us are Paul, right.

One of the keys to Paul’s pride is found in verse 18.  Paul did not compare his ministry by other people.  He only speaks about what Christ has accomplished through him.  He did not say, “I do a better job than Peter.”  Nor did he say, “I am better than all the Apostles”.  He just gave testimony about the opportunities that God had given him.

Specifically, he loved to talk about how the Gentiles were receptive to the gospel message of Jesus.  Their transformation was the real deal, for which Paul verified.  In speech they told others about becoming new creations in Christ.  Paul also said that their transformation was evident in lifestyle changes.  They talked the talk and walked the walk.

Not only was there salvations among the Gentiles, but there was accompanied signs and wonders.  Jesus said the gospel will be validated with power.  First and foremost this power for transformation occurs in salvation.  But all of the disciples expected miracles also.  When John the Baptist asked Jesus if he was the Messiah, he did not quote a scripture passage as being fulfilled.  He did not become defensive about being questioned.  He did not point to the mass of people that were following Him.  He did not talk about being a favored son of God nor compare Himself to another ministry as being better.  He just replied, ““Go and tell John what you hear and see: ⁵ the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers^[a] are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.” Matthew 11:5  What may happen to our gospel message if this were true of our ministry?  Let us never limit what God may want to do through our ministries to reach those in hurt and pain.  Miracles have not ceased, but our expectation that they might occur has.  Ministry requires faith that God will work through us….so do miracles.

Paul also had a footprint of ministry that He knew was his to walk in.  The distance from Jerusalem to Illyricum was nearly 1400 miles. Paul wished to extend that distance through Rome and into Spain.  The point is that there is a geographical sphere that God desires for your ministry.  It may be your neighborhood.  It could include your city.  It may even extend into a statewide or region of your country.  For some you will travel into the rest of the world.  BUT be faithful to fulfill your sphere without comparing it to another’s.  Finish the work that God has put in your heart.

So what are you proud of in your ministry?  The interaction and transformation of lives is the fruit that counts and the fruit that will remain.  After salvation, then its impartation.  You spending time with another to impart the wisdom, love, joy, and life that you have received from Jesus.  I want you to know that I am praying for the expansion and depth of your ministry.  I want you to be proud of what Christ is accomplishing through you.  You make a difference in the body of Christ that is significant and meaningful.

Father, thank you for Paul’s ministry.  Help us to be encouraged by the things that he accomplished.  He suffered much and most of us would not want that part of his ministry.  But they go together.  Help us to be found faithful to plow the field that you have assigned to us.  It will be our gift to YOU.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

Thinking about giving up...Read the Bible, Romans 15:4

⁴ For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans 15:4

If you are thinking about giving up….Read.  Paul is not talking about all writing, but the writings that we call the Old Testament in the Bible.  The Scriptures can encourage us through identification with problems that people face. If God can help them, then maybe He can help me.  Here is the kicker…but you gotta read it!  The Bible is the best prescription to navigate through all of life’s ups and downs.  Yet, so few of Americans take time to read it.  Anytime that you begin to read, invite the Holy Spirit to reveal to you words of life.  Even Jesus said that man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.  Jesus understood the importance of the Scripture to fight off the enemy.

One unique aspect about the people in the Bible is the transparency of their flaws. Many times there is little commentary for the reason of their wrong choice, while other times we see God warning them.  Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  Cain was warned that sin was crouching at the door of his life to have mastery over him.  He succumbed and killed his brother.  King David has an almost blameless life, but when kings went to war, he stayed behind and committed adultery and arranged betrayal in warfare that left her husband dead.  We have inherited Psalms 51 as King David’s dialogue with God about receiving forgiveness after having committed such horrible sins.

If your life was put under a microscope for all of the world to see, what would they find?  If just the thoughts from the past week were put on a screen, what would people see?  If you had acted on those thoughts, what would have happened?  Was there a point in which you saw or heard God intervene?

The scriptures give us hope, because anyone can receive grace and move forward.  They teach us that there is a reward for endurance.  Not an immediate reward, but a seed is planted that bears good fruit in our lives.  It is worth it every time to endure.  They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall walk and not be weary, they shall run and not faint.  They will mount up with wings like eagles.  Is 40:31. 

Oh, be encouraged today.  Begin reading the scriptures.  Ask God to feed your spirit through His word.  Persevere beyond the temptation to quit because you don’t find it relevant or hard to understand.  The enemy hates it when we feed on God’s word.  Ask God to help you fall in love with it.

Father, we admit that we don’t always endure.  Thank you for your grace to forgive.  Help us to draw the strength from your word that you provide.  Help us to find time and make time to read your word.  Help us to hear Jesus speaking to us through His word.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

Approval that Brings a Blessing

²² So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. Romans 14:22

Where did your convictions come from?  How much was caught by the environment that you grew up in?  How much does your religious traditions impact the values that you hold so dear to your Christian faith?  Have you thought much about issues like the mode of baptism, worship style, or unclean meats?

In this chapter Paul addressed differences in opinion regarding the freedom to eat meat that Jewish law declared unclean.  For many of the Jews this was a stumbling point in fellowship.  Their whole life before Christ was consumed in observance to the law of not eating or even coming in contact with a meat like pork.  How did becoming a Christian reverse what God had so clearly defined?  In Peter’s vision, he refused to eat the unclean meat in which God was now declaring clean.  He struggled to understand how God would change this command.  But God placed him at Cornelius’ home…a gentile who ate this unclean meat.  God superseded Peter’s objections.

Back to my original question.  How were your convictions developed?  Paul is giving a clue as to how to have a peaceful mind.  He says that one who lives convictions based on faith does not stand condemned.  James says a person that does not live by faith wavers constantly like a ship on the ocean driven and tossed by the wind.  James says this person is unstable in all of his ways.

Peace comes first in knowing why you believe.  Faith is our response to a truth that God has revealed.  If we believe that baptism is by immersion, then we would expect to be baptized in this way.  If by sprinkling, then be sprinkled.  Not because someone else told you that this is the only way.  But, because you prayed and are trusting (faith in action) God that this is the right mode.

Second there is a peace that comes when you know that you don’t have to convince others about your convictions especially when they differ from you own.  If they ask how you derived your opinion, then share it with them.  By not judging or arguing with them to make them believe as you do, opens a path for yourself that is a blessing.  This verse does not mean that you have to be quiet about your conviction.  Be ready to share or defend your thought processes.  But so much freedom comes from knowing that God is able to make his point of view known to them at the appropriate time or change your viewpoint if necessary.

Father, help us to ground our convictions in your word.  Help us to make room for those who believe differently, that you love them equally as much as you do us.  Help us to expect to give grace to others as we need grace extended into our lives as well.  Help us to identify true convictions and not fear of what other people think.  We don’t want to live in the shadow of the fear of men, but in the lighted path that you lay before us.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

Don’t throw stumbling blocks, they land at your feet

Don’t throw stumbling blocks, they land at your feet

Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. Romans 14:13

Paul spends most of this chapter discussing issues on secondary matters in the scripture.  What food is clean or unclean?  Which day is holy and which is not?  How do you live out these conviction without thinking you are “right” and they are “wrong”?

The key to this section found in verse 13, “stop passing judgment”.  Judging sets a barrier that excludes ‘grace’ from the conversation.  Judging blinds the eyes to unconditional love.  Judging exalts a position to one who has no authority to hold that position.  Appealing to the letter of the law as if you were the expert, does not accomplish the heart of the gospel to which all equally in need.

Again these are secondary issues and not the heart of the gospel about salvation.  The opposite of judging is a “preferring spirit”.  There would be little to no debating about how your viewpoint is “more correct”.  There would be NO gossip about the other person.  There would be a thankfulness for the person you disagree with, knowing that God’s diversity is good for the body of Christ.  Could you cheer on the person that you disagree with?  Would they think that you are such a trusted friend that you “would have their back”?  If not, are you willing for God to search your heart to see if you have the right heart attitude toward that person you disagree with?

Church congregations would operate so differently if we lived this principle of “stop passing judgment on one another.”  Repent and then listen to your words.  Stay in touch with attitudes that are unbecoming, caustic, or arrogant.  These are signs that you may be judgmental.

Father, forgive us for judging so quickly.  Help us to see every place that we are arrogant toward our brother or sister in Christ.  Help us to firm our convictions without imposing them on another person.  Thank you that you want us to work in harmony with one another.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

Day ONE, Lets get started!

Day ONE

Matthew West sings a song called Day ONE.  This is the chorus of the song.

It's day one of the rest of my life
It's day one of the best of my life

The idea is that we all made a mess of our lives and get stuck thinking about what we have done wrong.  But the song reminds us that we have a new day it is called today.  We can start living today like it’s brand new with our past behind us.

Jesus in John 8 met a woman caught in the middle of adultery.  At the end of her disgraceful episode of public humiliation, Jesus asks her “where are your accusers”?  She replied, “they have all left.”  Jesus responded, “neither do I condemn you, Go and sin no more.”  It was Day ONE for her.  What do you think she did?  How do you think she responded?

We can experience Day ONE after Sin and difficult Struggles. This lady experienced Day ONE after her sin was forgiven.  In other words Jesus was saying, right now young lady you have a fresh start.  Yes, your past was ugly and painful.  But right now, begin to live with right decisions.  There may be a lot of people that are going to remind you of your past, but tell them Jesus says you have a future with him.  There may be consequences of your past sins, but God will be ever present to help you walk a new and meaningful life.  Receive His forgiveness today and start Day ONE.

It’s also Day ONE for your struggles.  Struggles are designed by our enemy to be so overbearing that we abandon course.  Possibly you are feeling like giving up and quitting.  The rich young ruler was ready to follow Jesus, until Jesus told him to sell all that he had.  The young man turned aside and quit, because the standard was too difficult.  Maybe it is your bills, lack of finances, crappy job, marital problems, chronic illness, or transportation woes that is your defining struggle.  Hold on.  Resist the temptation to take a shortcut that is not biblical.  Today is Day ONE.  The mercies of the Lord are new every morning.  God’s presence and wisdom are going to help you make it through this day.  Zacchaeus was deceitful tax collector.  Jesus showed up and salvation came to his house.  Zacchaeus changed his difficult situation.  Day ONE had come.

Listen to your excuses as to why you can not accomplish your goal today.  Is it because of something that occurred yesterday?  Today is new.  Today is Day ONE.  God has an abundance of Grace and wisdom to share with those who are willing to walk as Day ONE.

Father, it is easy to say Day ONE, but hard to live it.  It is not impossible, thank you Lord.  But it is hard to let go of our past.  We made the wrong decision and we feel our stupidity.  Give us freedom and learn to accept your grace.  One right decision now puts me on the path for another right decision.  Thank you for Day ONE.  In Jesus Name, Amen

What clothes did you put on today?

12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.¹³ Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. ¹⁴ Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. Romans 13:12-14

Some people who wake up early see the sun rise most every day.  There is a soft glow in the sky that begins to overtake the darkness.  The whole sky turns from black to purple then to a blue.  The light focuses intently toward the big ball of fire that is about to appear.  Typically one more moment of cold scurries past just before the tip of the sun crest the horizon.

We know what a sunrise looks like, but we are ignorant of the end of times and the coming of the Lord. His coming is sooner than we think.  Paul says that the day is almost here.  What has happened in the dark will be full exposed.  There will be no more hiding or excuses.  Light will shine on all things.

Satisfying our flesh is synonymous with hiding our sinful deeds in the cloak of darkness.  If light is coming, we need to be doing and living as children of light.  Paul says that behavior should be decent.  It should be fitting as a child of God.  He mentions 3 main behaviors.  Drunkenness, debauchery and carousing are all cousins that reflect lack of self-control and addiction.  Sexual immorality reflects desire to use people for personal gratification which is the opposite of love.  Dissension and jealousy reflect our quickness to judge and compare others.  We are so drawn to divide instead of being unifiers.  He says that we should STOP thinking how to gratify ourselves.

We are to clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ.  When we get dressed in the morning, we want to look our best and be coordinated in colors. You would be amazed at how much the scriptures reference clothing.  Robe of Righteousness – don’t allow it to cover unconfessed sins.  Feet ready for the gospel- Shoes ready at all times to follow the leading of the Spirit to the lost and needy.  Helmet of salvation – guarding your thoughts and focused for the task at hand.  So what did you put on today?

Father, thank you that clothing is important.  You have provided at the spiritual clothing that we would need for the day.  Help us to notice when we are focusing on gratifying the flesh in our lives.  We want to make sure that our thoughts are always heavenward.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

Give what you owe

 ⁷ Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Romans 13:7

The Scripture addresses every aspect of our lives.  It is not silent about money, in fact Jesus spoke about money issues more than any other subject except the kingdom of God.  More even than Heaven and Hell.  Money affects every area of our lives.  We work for money, we purchase food with money, we save money, we control with money, we spend money on entertainment, we purchase homes and cars, we spend money on our debts.

Paul says that it is good for our conscience to pay what we owe to people.  We owe taxes, we should pay them. In America, we have some opportunity to regulate how much taxes should be paid.  This is not true of every country.  But here, we started our country partially because of taxation with representation.  Now we hopefully vote in politicians that will address our concerns.

If you stop the verse at taxes you might miss the principle that Paul was specifically addressing.  We are to give proper appreciation for services rendered or sacrifice offered.  This keeps our hearts tender.  We walk humbly, appreciating all of those around us.  When we drive on safe, pot hole free highways, our government provided that with taxes.  When you save or spend money, our government provided the legal tender.  When our first responders go to the scene of an accident again and again, yes it is there job, but we owe them appreciation.  There is a lady who stands on a street side of a school waiting to help children across at the proper time, it would be easy to never see her, unless a child was hurt.

Showing proper appreciation all the time and respect for others is a sign of maturity.  Children are taught and catch how to respect others.  Children are born with an entitlement attitude.  The world revolves around their survival.  People attend to their needs or they die.  But as they grow they see that they have something to offer and they see the sacrifice that parents have made.  As they mature, now it is their turn to give back…unless they never mature beyond entitlement.

To show honor and give respect is in direct opposition to any sense of entitlement.  This does not mean that we neglect the poor or that we do not have an obligation to be just to the needy.  But if everyone gave what they owe, there would be higher appreciation for all human life.  People would have a higher sense of self-worth.

Father, we don’t like having to pay taxes, but we appreciate the services.  Help our country move to less debt and better spending.  We spend money that we don’t have and that violates good fiscal principles.  Lord our government is a reflection of personal spending habits.  Forgive us that we have not learned how to trust you instead of money.  You care about all of our needs and we can trust you.  Let us move to owe no man nothing except to love him.